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Tibet – Rooftop of the World Study Abroad Program Itinerary Day 1 – June 13 Our international study abroad program to Tibet begins as we depart for Chengdu, China. Day 2 – June 14 Arrive in Chengdu and transfer to our hotel. We will have dinner and rest from the international flight. Overnight Chengdu Day 3 – June 15 Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and is the economic, political and cultural center for South-West China. After breakfast our first classroom will be Wenshu Monastery which dates back to the Tang dynasty. This is Chengdu’s largest and best preserved temple. It is a very active temple with many worshippers coming each day to pray and make offerings. After lunch we will take a short drive outside of Chengdu to explore Baoguang Monastery – The Temple of Devine Light. This is another active monastery that was founded in the 9th century and it houses a beautiful white jade Buddha statue. Here we will have our introduction to Mahayana Buddhism. On the return to Chengdu our classroom will be Zhaojue Temple, a Tang dynasty building dating back to the 7th century. Here we will study Chinese Mahayana Buddhist art. Overnight Chengdu Day 4 – June 16 Depart Chengdu on a flight to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet and once the centuries-old home of the Dalai Lamas. Transfer to hotel. We will spend our first three days in Tibet in Lhasa studying Buddhist philosophy and art in Lhasa’s most important temples, monasteries and palaces. On our first day, you will browse Lhasa’s ancient market and bazaar – the Barkhor, where you will see pilgrims from all over Tibet circumambulating Tibet’s holiest temple, the Jokhang. Overnight Lhasa Day 5 – June 17 Your first class in Tibet takes place at the Potala Palace– “the Pure Land of Avalokitesvara” – the embodiment of compassion and the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas that was constructed in the 17th century by the great Fifth Dalai Lama. This fantastic masterpiece of Tibetan architecture has more than 1000 rooms that include a collection of sacred Buddhist art second to none. Centuries of sacred art – statues, stupas and paintings are contained in the many shrines, temples and prayer halls. The history of Tibet is portrayed here in the Potala, on its walls and altars in this magnificent former palace. In the afternoon, your classroom will be Sera Monastery located just north of Lhasa. This historically important monastery was once the home to 5,000 monks. Founded in 1419, Sera has a superb collection of sacred art and will be the site of your first class on Tibetan Buddhist sacred art. One of the many highlights of Sera is observing the monks perform their afternoon debates. Overnight Lhasa Day 6 – June 18

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In the morning your classroom will be the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest of temples. The Jokhang houses a beautiful gold Buddha statue, a gift from the Chinese Princess Wen Cheng in 641 AD. For centuries, pilgrims have traveled from all over Tibet to prostrate themselves at the doorsteps of Tibet’s most sacred temple. In the afternoon, our studies will continue at Drepung Monastery which was built in 1416. Drepung was once the world’s largest monastery with a population of 10,000 monks. Here at Drepung you will study Buddhist philosophy and learn and practice Buddhist meditation. Overnight Lhasa Day 7 – June 19 After breakfast our studies focus on Tibetan Buddhist sacred art. Your classroom will be at a Tibetan Tangka (scroll) painting studio where you will learn the timeless tradition of creating Buddhist sacred and why it plays such a vital role in Tibetan Buddhism. After lunch there will be free time for direct immersion with the local Tibetans in the Barkhor market before we depart Lhasa the following day. In the evening we will return to the Jokhang temple to sit with the monks as they chant their evening prayers. Overnight Lhasa Day 8 – June 20 Early morning departure for Shigatse. On the outskirts of Shigatse, our classroom will be Shalu Monastery, located a few miles east of Shigatse. This beautiful small monastery, with its Chinese style green tiled roofs, dates back to the 11th century. Shalu is noted for its murals that fuse Chinese, Mongol and Nepalese styles. Shalu is a treasure house for students interested in Asian art and will be the site where our studies of Buddhist art continues. Overnight Shigatse Day 9 – June 21 We depart Shigatse on a picturesque drive through the Tibetan countryside to Tingri. During our drive we will visit many nomad families and will learn how the nomads of Tibet have been herding yak for centuries. You will learn how the nomads sustain their lives from the yak – shelter, food, transportation, and clothes. The nomads are decreasing each year and this maybe our last glimpse of the Tibetan nomad. Overnight Tingri Day 10 – June 22 Early morning departure for Mount Everest. We are treated to one of the most spectacular mountain drives in Tibet. Driving through small remote villages we come to one of Tibet’s highest mountain passes that offers our first magnificent view of the massive Himalayan range including Mount Everest. With your first glimpse of Mount Everest, you come to understand why the Tibetans refer to it as Chomolungma, the Mother Goddess of the World! At Everest, your classroom will be Rongphu Monastery – the world’s highest monastery where your studies of Buddhist philosophy continues. Overnight Everest. Day 11 – June 23 The entire morning is dedicated to exploring and directly experiencing the world’s highest eco-system. After lunch we depart Everest and drive back through the Tibetan countryside to Shigatse. On our drive back to Shigatse we will stop and visit a few Tibetan farm houses and will learn how farmers can cultivate the land and grow crops at such high altitudes. We will learn what crops are grown and how they are cultivated at an altitude that exceeds 13,000 feet above sea level. Overnight – Shigatse

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Day 12 – June 24 After breakfast our classroom will be Tashilhunpo Monastery, once the seat of the Panchen Lama, who was declared an incarnation of the Buddha Amitabha by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Tashilhunpo houses a brilliant collection of sacred Buddhist art especially with its 86 foot-high statue of the future Buddha Maitreya. After lunch we depart Shigatse for the town of Gyantse. In Gyantse your classroom will be the Kumbum, a tiered stupa that was constructed in the 14th century with over 75 interlocking chapels and more than 100,000 sacred images. To many scholars, the Kumbum Stupa is one of the crowning achievements of Tibetan sacred architecture. The entire Indo-Tibetan Buddhist pantheon is contained in this extraordinary structure. Our Buddhist philosophy program continues at Pelkor Chode Monastery. Overnight in Gyantse Day 13 – June 25 An early morning departure for Tsedang. As we travel through the spectacular Tibetan countryside, we arrive in the afternoon at Yumbulagang, perhaps the oldest building in Tibet. Yumbulagang sits atop a craggy ridge overlooking the Yarlung Valley. It is a great example of Tibetan architecture that dates back more than 2000 years and will be your classroom where you continue your studies of Buddhist philosophy and art. Overnight in Tsedang Day 14 – June 26 After breakfast, we depart for Samye, Tibet’s oldest Buddhist monastery established in 767 by the great Indian master Padmasambhava. To reach Samye, we must cross over the Brahmaputra, Tibet’s lifeline river. We cross the river by ferry on one of the most beautiful experiences of our program in Tibet. The fantastic views of the surrounding mountains are absolutely breathtaking! When we arrive at Samye we are treated to a fantastic collection of Tibet sacred art, some dating back to the 8th century! The building itself is a remarkable example of Buddhist architecture as it is built on the model of a sacred mandala. Here at Samye we will study Buddhist art and philosophy. Overnight Tsedang Day 15 – June 27 Our wonderful study abroad program in Tibet comes to its conclusion as we have our last look at the Tibetan countryside as we travel to Gongar Airport for our return flight back to Chengdu. Arrive in Chengdu and transfer to hotel. Overnight Chengdu Day 16 – June 28 After breakfast you will visit one of the world’s best panda bear habitats where you have the opportunity to see many of these beautiful pandas. Afternoon is free time in Chengdu to rest, shop and prepare for our next day return flight back to the States. Overnight Chengdu Day 17 – June 29 Homeward Bound. We depart Chengdu for the States.